Chapter 2: An Unlikely Encounter

The fluorescent lights of the college cafeteria flickered above, casting an artificial glow over the bustling room. Peter Parker navigated the crowded space, his eyes scanning the rows of students grabbing lunch. He spotted an empty tray and made his way over, only to realize someone had beaten him to it. A tall, blond-haired guy was about to take the last available plate of pizza. "Hey, I saw that!" Peter protested, trying to sound friendly but firm. The blond guy turned around, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "Oh, I'm sorry dude. I didn't see you there." Peter chuckled, feeling a little silly for overreacting. "No worries, I guess we're just both after the same thing." The guy held out the plate. "I'm Johnny Storm, by the way. And you are...?" Peter took the plate, his fingers brushing against Johnny's. "I'm Peter Parker. Nice to meet you, Johnny." As they exchanged introductions, Peter couldn't help but notice the confident air about Johnny. He seemed to light up the room with his presence. Johnny tucked his tray under his arm and gestured for Peter to follow him. "Hey, why don't we grab a table and chat? I'm starving." Peter trailed behind Johnny, taking in the lively atmosphere of the cafeteria. They found a quiet corner table and dug in, exchanging small talk about their classes and interests. As they ate, Peter discovered they had more in common than he thought. Both were science majors, and they geeked out over their favorite comic books. Johnny was easy to talk to, and Peter found himself laughing more than he had in weeks. But as their conversation flowed, Peter's protective instincts began to stir. He caught himself watching Johnny's every move, making sure he was okay. It was a habit he'd developed as Spider-Man, always on the lookout for potential threats. Johnny seemed oblivious to Peter's watchful gaze, chatting away about his favorite TV shows. Peter forced himself to relax, not wanting to come across as too intense. As they finished their lunch, Johnny glanced at his phone. "Hey, I'm running a bit late for my next class. Want to walk with me?" Peter nodded, and they strolled out of the cafeteria together. As they walked, Johnny tossed him a friendly smile. "Hey, Parker? It's been great chatting with you. We should hang out again sometime." Peter grinned, feeling a spark of excitement. "Definitely. I'll give you a call." As they parted ways, Peter couldn't shake the feeling that he'd just met someone special. Johnny Storm was charismatic, confident, and easy to talk to. And Peter couldn't help but feel drawn to him. But as he watched Johnny walk away, Peter's protective instincts kicked in once more. He felt an overwhelming urge to keep Johnny safe, to shield him from harm. For now, Peter pushed those feelings aside, focusing on the promise of a new friendship. Little did he know, this was just the beginning of a complicated and wonderful journey with Johnny Storm. The rest of Peter's day flew by in a blur. He attended his classes, went to the library to study, and eventually made his way back to his dorm room. As he settled into his bed, he couldn't help but think about Johnny. He pulled out his phone and sent Johnny a text. "Hey, Johnny. Just wanted to say thanks for lunch today. I'm looking forward to hanging out again soon." Johnny responded almost immediately. "No problem, Peter. I'm looking forward to it too. Maybe we can grab coffee or something?" Peter smiled, feeling a sense of excitement. He couldn't wait to spend more time with Johnny. But as he drifted off to sleep, Peter's protective instincts lingered, a reminder that his feelings for Johnny went far beyond friendship. And he wasn't sure how to process them. The next morning, Peter woke up feeling a bit anxious. He had a feeling that his life was about to get a lot more complicated. And he wasn't sure if he was ready for it. As he got dressed and headed to the cafeteria for breakfast, Peter couldn't help but wonder what the future held for him and Johnny. Would they be able to navigate their feelings and become something more, or would their friendship be doomed from the start? Only time would tell. But one thing was for sure - Peter was excited to find out. But little did he know, his overprotectiveness would soon cause tension between them and make Johnny cry.